This year’s Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA) conference in Killarney concentrated on the theme of active citizenship. But what is active citizenship? It is something that many of us have been doing as a matter of course all our lives.

Every time you offer to sit on a committee, organise a cake sale, look after an elderly neighbour, help out the local scouts or offer your services voluntarily you are involved in Active Citizenship.

A healthy society exists where individuals are willing to come together, without reward, for the purpose of improving situations or helping others in need. Being an active citizen also means that you exercise your right to political participation by voting and engaging in improving the quality of life at a local level.

The National College of Ireland and the DDDA have joined together to sponsor a course which focuses on the theory, practice and skills of active citizenship. The main aim of the course is: ‘To enable all local people, but perhaps in particular those working in a paid or unpaid capacity in the field of community development, to work more effectively by increasing their understanding and practical knowledge of, and skills for, active citizenship.’

At the conference Cathy Moore, who completed the course in October 2005 said that she jumped at the opportunity to avail of an NCI qualification. She found it challenging and felt that the content of the programme was up-to-date and relevant to the rapid social change we are all experiencing.

The Active Citizenship for Local Development course will run from February to July 2006, one evening a week, and further information may be obtained from Michéle Ryan of NCI at 449 8544 or email:mryan@ncirl.ie. There are still places available and there is no fee involved.